Archived News

To start off 2012 on a seabird note Steve Howell has authored a new book entitled Petrels, Albatrosses, and Storm-Petrels of Noth America: a Photographic Guide.  A publisher's description follows.  It is planned to carry a review of the book in ACAP Latest News in due course.

"Petrels, albatrosses, and storm-petrels are among the most beautiful yet least known of all the world's birds, living their lives at sea far from the sight of most people.  Largely colored in shades of gray, black, and white, these enigmatic and fast-flying seabirds can be hard to differentiate, particularly from a moving boat.  Useful worldwide, not just in North America, this photographic guide is based on unrivaled field experience and combines insightful text and hundreds of full-color images to help you identify these remarkable birds.

The first book of its kind, this guide features an introduction that explains ocean habitats and the latest developments in taxonomy.  Detailed species accounts describe key identification features such as flight manner, plumage variation related to age and molt, seasonal occurrence patterns, and migration routes.  Species accounts are arranged into groups helpful for field identification, and an overview of unique identification challenges is provided for each group.  The guide also includes distribution maps for regularly occurring species as well as a bibliography, glossary, and appendixes.

The first state-of-the-art photographic guide to these enigmatic seabirds includes hundreds of full-color photos throughout; features detailed species accounts that describe flight, plumage, distribution, and more; provides overviews of ocean habitats, taxonomy, and conservation; and offers tips on how to observe and identify birds at sea."

Howell, S.N.G. 2012.  Petrels, Albatrosses, and Storm-Petrels of North America: a Photographic Guide. Princeton: Princeton University Press.  520 pp.  ISBN: 9780691142111.

Click here to find out more about the book.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 6 January 2012